While his promotion has been essentially a done deal since August, incoming sheriff Richard Behnke still had some homework to take care of before he formally takes office Jan 1.

Over the past two weeks, the longtime undersheriff joined 32 other incoming sheriffs from around Michigan during an intensive training seminar at Michigan State University, organized by the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association. Taught by instructors from across the U.S., Behnke and other program participants brushed up on the skills they employ as heads of their departments, learning everything from proper budgeting practices to how to handle inmates.

While most of the subjects he was already familiar with, thanks to nearly 30 years of experience at the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, the incoming sheriff enjoyed the refresher on the topics — as well as the opportunity to pick the minds of his fellow incoming sheriffs, Behnke said.

“We all are dealing with basically the same issues, just on different scales,” he said. “It was good to know I have other sheriffs I can count on for help.”

Now back home at the office, with his training out of the way, the sheriff-elect is setting his sights on the numerous challenges that lie ahead for him and his deputies.

Behnke was sworn into office Friday by Cass County Circuit Court Judge Michael Dodge. The Dowagiac man was elected as the next sheriff in November, after securing the Republican nomination for the job in a three-way race in August.

Behnke will take over the office of sheriff from Cassopolis’ Joseph Underwood, who retires at the end of the year after 24 years in office. The sheriff-elect has served as Underwood’s undersheriff for the past 13 years, and has been a member of the department since 1987.

Among Behnke’s top priorities when assuming office is addressing a problem that police agencies are facing across the state: a dwindling pool of interested candidates for road patrol and corrections officers positions.

“It used to be we would put out a job posting for one of those positions and we would get 50 to 60 applications back,” Behnke said. “Now we may get five or 10 back. After that, you have to look at the quality of the applicant, as well.”

To help drive those numbers back up, the sheriff-elect is looking to increase community outreach efforts, in particular to local high school and college students, he said.

Also on the books is strengthening training when it comes to dealing with suspects and prisoners with mental health problems. With the sheriff’s office already working with staff members of Cassopolis’ Woodlands Behavioral Health, Behnke wants his road deputies and corrections officers to better identify and handle the mentally ill, to help keep them out of jails and get them into treatment programs, he said.

Several technological challenges also wait in the wings.

With the department just recently finishing long awaited upgrades to its radio towers, Behnke will oversee the replacement of the county’s 911 system in March, a project that will completely replace the equipment — installed in 1999 — with modern technology. The upgrades will allow the public to use text messaging and other smartphone features to call for help, Behnke said.

Just as Underwood was for him, Behnke is looking to serve as a mentor for the next generation of law enforcement, looking for bright and committed individuals who will can fill the shoes of the department’s leaders when they eventually retire.

“It is a huge task,” he said. “It is not going to happen overnight. We are going to need to identify these officers and begin training them.”

Behnke is also looking for an officer to replace him as undersheriff. He is currently interviewing possible candidates now, though he does not have a definite date in mind on when he will fill the position, he said.

Behnke also plans on spending his initial few months in office meeting with each member of his department individually, to learn what their current goals are and to get input on which direction the department should head, he said.

The same open door policy he will implement with his officers will be extended to the public as well, Behnke said.

“I thank the voters for their trust in me,” he said. “I am sure we will continue to make the Cass County Sheriff’s Office a proud organization. People should have no worries about the professionalism and integrity of our officers.”